Tag Archives: Steve Garnaas-Holmes

“Amen,” You Said

Posted on July 29, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

The good news is that everything is forgiven—everything.—Steve Garnaas-Holmes, “Erased” “Amen,” you said,and you believed it.You taught it,preached it,and blogged about it.“I can love myself just the way I am–warts and all–because that’s the way God loves me,”you said,and you … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Crusty Da Klown, Erased, Esther Hizsa, Friendship, Luke 15, Pompeo Batoni, Psalm 23, Rainier Martin Ampongan, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, The Difficult Path, The Return of the Prodigal Son | Leave a comment

The Gift

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

“Love you,” one of my beloveds said. I held these two wordsin disbelief and wonder.I wasn’t expecting a hug goodbyeor even a glance back.That didn’t meanI wasn’t hoping for it.Now, I was holding the giftI’d wanted for so long. For … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Burnaby Mountain, Esther Hizsa, Hug the Mountain, Louise Docker, Love Heart, pattern of sunshine on stone wall, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, spodzone, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Sunlight, Trans Mountain Pipeline, trust | 2 Comments

Come Home, Sweetheart

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

Sunny dayslong bike ridespeaches and time–lots of leisurely time to enjoy momentswithout conflictdeadlines or problems to solve. Then the rain we needed cameto put out the firesalong with the restrictions we needed to keep us all safe.News kept coming from Haiti … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poetry, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Bernal Saborio, Cheryl Richardson, Covid 19, Esther Hizsa, Everything you've said, forever_carrie_on, hug, Melody Owen, Peaches, Pen Waggener, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Tapping Summit | 1 Comment

How the Light Gets In

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

On the afternoon before the opening weekend of Living from the Heart at Bethlehem Centre on Vancouver Island, I took a walk around Westwood Lake to allow my jostled soul to settle. That morning, I’d read the poem Vessel by … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Anthem, Autumn sunrise, Esther Hizsa, Kevin Brown, Leonard Cohen, Living from the Heart, Martin LaBar, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Unfolding LIght, Vessel, Westwood Lake | Leave a comment

I Am Both

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

It’s Ash Wednesday. Tonight our priest will press her thumb into ashes and impose the truth of our mortality on my forehead. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” Pastor Ruth will say. When I think about it, fear kicks in … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Ash Wednesday, Dust and breath, Esther Hizsa, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 3:19, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes | 2 Comments

Compassion Leads the Way

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

This is my last post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read the previous ones, I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. I stood with the Trinity looking down at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged 8 day retreat, Becker1999 (Paul and Cathy), compassion, Esther Hizsa, feeding 5000, impossible, John 3:1-24, March for Our Lives, Matthew 5:44, Richard Rohr, Rublev icon, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Trinity, Walking on water, Walter Wink | 3 Comments

Inseparable

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

Fred and I gathered on Vancouver Island with family and friends of my nephew Lee to spread his ashes. Some came just for the ceremony, some for a few days and, others, like us, stayed for the whole week to … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Dostoyevsky, Esther Hizsa, Hafiz, Richard Wagamese, Romans 8:38-39, Sacred Heart, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, whitetail deer. spreading ashes | 2 Comments

Shame’s Spell

Posted on October 19, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Jesus pushes me out of uncomfortable places and pulls me into them. –Steve Garnaas-Holmes I almost said no to co-facilitating Living from the Heart next year because it makes me uncomfortable at times. I’ve told you how it tosses me … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Bono, Esther Hizsa, Eugene Peterson, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Living from the Heart, Psalm 18:16-19, Shame, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Who do you say that I am? | 2 Comments

Portage

Posted on September 7, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

“You’re the only one here who isn’t retired,” my brother said to me. I was with two of my siblings and their spouses at my brother’s cottage in Minnesota. They were planning a trip to France next year and welcomed … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Aging, Canoe, Esther Hizsa, Isaiah 48:6-7, Martin Cathrae, OakleyOriginals, portage, Praying, retirement, Rocky Portage, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Stoplog Canoes, Tarah, transitions, Unfolding LIght | Leave a comment

Hidden Buckets

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Imagine how refreshing the air would be in a community of open, caring honesty, without that hidden bucket of hurts fermenting under the kitchen sink. —Steve Garnaas-Holmes Recently I read these words and saw my hurt fermenting in a particular … Continue reading →